Located at 10 Rockefeller Plaza on 48th Street, Pokemon Center features a vast array of sound and light shows and life size, robotic Pokemon characters in 10,000 square feet of retail and interactive floor space (13,000 sq. ft. total). Multiple gaming environments enable players to try new Pokemon games -- free of charge -- and swap Pokemon characters available for Game Boys only at the Center. Other one-of-a-kind features include a fog and light-gushing Pokeball and the Ultra Pokedex, a giant-sized screen and a control pad that enables users to obtain information about all 251 Pokemon.

The new entertainment and merchandise center will feature interactive Pokemon animatronic characters, multiple gaming environments and extensive Pokemon resources satisfying both serious Poke-aficionados as well as newcomers to the gaming sensation.

Within this one-of-a kind retail wonderland, 40 percent of the store merchandise will consist of products available exclusively at the Pokemon Center. Among the exciting new exclusive products is the Pokemon Mini, a compact, handheld, cartridge-based game system that works with a variety of Pokemon games. New Pokemon-branded products such as videos, cards, New York art deco motif items and other unique products will be available at the store before many other retail outlets.

GRAND OPENING FRIDAY, NOV. 16

The Grand Opening, scheduled for Friday, November 16 will kick-off the 2001 holiday shopping season with tournaments, drawings of limited edition Pokemon products and contests that will appeal to the whole family.

MELDING A FUTURISTIC FANTASY WORLD WITH ART DECO DESIGN

"The 13,000 square-foot destination encompasses two levels on the corner of Rockefeller Center and 48th Street," explains David Hillenbrand, general manager for Pokemon USA Inc. "It will be the only physical space in the U.S. exclusively dedicated to ongoing enjoyment of the world of Pokemon, providing an experience for adults and children of all ages."

The Phillips Group, which specializes in interior architecture, designed and developed the wondrous destination. According to Alec Zaballero, design director, "Pokemon Center is a place with its own character and landscape. When every child and adult walks through the door, they will recognize Pokemon Center as a piece of the Pokemon universe transported to mid-Manhattan. It is the concrete realization of the Pokemon brand."

THE GROWING WORLDWIDE POKEMON(R) UNIVERSE

There are currently more than 800 licensees for Pokemon products, excluding Asia, producing thousands of individual licensed products. Pokemon video games dominate the charts with more than 85 million sold to date worldwide, including more than 33 million video games sold to date in the U.S. Pokemon now broadcasts in over 65 countries in 30 different languages, and Kids' WB in the U.S. is entering its fourth season with Pokemon as the #1 broadcast children's program.

WHAT IS POKEMON(R) ALL ABOUT?

Pokemon is a fantasy universe of characters who possess a diverse array of strengths, weaknesses and special powers -- some who evolve to become others.

Today, this ever-changing gaming universe is home to 251 Pokemon, including the best known Pikachu as well as friends and foes Ash, Misty, Charizard, Totodile, Mewtwo, Scizor, Meowth, Blastoise and others. Pokemon become stronger through training to compete with each other. The goal as a player, in the multi-level video games and trading cards, is to master the strategy, catch 'em all, collect every type of Pokemon and become the world's greatest Pokemon trainer.

Pokemon USA, Inc., a New York-based subsidiary of The Pokemon Company
(TPC) in Japan, was established to manage and oversee the Pokemon franchise and the upcoming Pokemon Center, a multi-sensory entertainment destination, in New York's Rockefeller Center. The Pokemon creators, along with Nintendo, first launched Pokemon for the world's best-selling Game Boy video game system in Japan in 1996 and watched the original 150 creatures evolve into a global cultural phenomenon. The franchise arrived in North America in September 1998 and has grown into a multi-billion dollar industry worldwide.